HOW DID YOU USE MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES

IN THE CONSTRUCTION, RESEARCH,

PLANNING AND EVALUATION STAGES?

Within the main production process I have used

my existing skills of photography through the use
of DSLR camera Nikon D7100. Use of this
product has allowed me and my group to create
high quality recording of our music video. Along
side with equipment such as tripods we
accomplished to create various film shots
including hand held and still shots. This variation
was essential within our production as it allowed
us to reinforce our progressive house genre
which is full of dynamic beats, while the still shots
allowed us to build up significance of emotions,
facial expressions and body language. Besides,
from that I have used my camera within
the ancillary task where I have captured still images of locations including natural forms
of twigs, trees and maze. I could comfortably manipulate the light exposure, depth of field
within both recording and taking photographs. As further development as a group we
have used GoPro camera. This was something new for all of us, however with the use of
instruction we have accomplished to record effective shots which we mainly based
around the point of view. Our aim was to use the GoPro camera to engage the
viewers with the perception of the actress. This worked really well creating subtle
impression of fish eye angle emphasizing the setting along side with the movement
of the actress. To improve any of our shots we have carried a laptop which helped
us to identify any needed modifications allowing us to save any extra time for retouching and re-filming as a result we obtained more time for editing.

Another essential program within our main production was Adobe Premier. Within this
program we have explored and gained various skills. As a director I was working closely with
the editor. Within this process I have learnt how to cut videos and place them to beat. This
allowed us to create continuous narrative. Besides, from that we gained skills in practise
which allowed us to be more experimental. Towards the end of the video we have
experimented with film overlay. Within this process we have also discovered how to reverse
and forward videos within the same time frame. Another editorial element involved
manipulating colour scheme throughout our video. As we wanted to keep our product
consistent at the same time reinforcing the beginning and end of our narrative we separated it
using two different effects. One of them included vibrant colour scheme full of rich colours
whereas other was much more dull, reinforcing the surreal feeling of a dream. Furthermore,
within my ancillary task I have used InDesign. This program was essential for construction of
my digipak and magazine advert. The use of margins and grid lines significantly allowed me
to position elements of my design in accurate and precise place and order. Working along
side with Photoshop was really essential and useful. Within this program I could effectively
download needed fonts, manipulate images, develop my designs such as logo which needed
layering and changes. I have particularly chosen to use Dafont.com website to download
chosen fonts due to the variety they offered comparing to Photoshop or InDesign typography
styles. Besides, from that I could comfortably manipulate image composition by applying
various filters, manipulate the explore highlights, shadows and colour range. All these
opportunities and options helped me to create successful designs which I then transformed and placed into
InDesign using grids and margins. Along side this process, I have also explored online editing software
called Ipiccy. I found the use of this program much easier, allowing me to comfortably develop and
experiment with various modes. This definitely helped me to save time within editing processes, allowing me
to direct the image manipulation process of what I want to obtain within final outcome.

TOOLS Linking to the previous slide I have experimented with variety of different
tools throughout the construction process, particularly within editing. Within
Photoshop I explored image overlay option which allowed me to create innovative
approach to typography designs. I also included this technique within my CD design
where I overlaid an image of the twigs. Within these stages I have also
experimented with various textures in order to emphasise an abstract and playful
approach. This was followed by my previous developments on Ipiccy. Within this
website I used variety of fools including: light exposure tools (manipulation of
contrast, highlights and shadows), sharpening tools especially within the nature
images where I wanted to obtain rough textures but also colour filters that allowed
me to bring out vibrant colour schemes supporting dance genre. For example:
range filter applied within the insidecolour
of my digipak design. Following to InDesign I mainly focused on building final
arrangements, bringing strong emphasis on positioning, accuracy and proportions. For this I used tools such as Shape
Frame Tool, Line or Lasso which allowed me to successfully transform elements earlier created in Photoshop or
manipulated in Ipiccy as well as perfect for creating various borders which can be seen particularly within my ancillary
tasks designs. Overall, I found all programs useful in different ways allowing me to use diverse tools and methods for
different elements of my final designs. My knowledge of these technologies definitely increased after construction

Here is a set of online websites which I have used throughout my research, planning, construction and
evaluation. These include : Prezi, Slide Share, Scribd, Emaze ,Soundcloud and Blogger. All of these
different sources of presentation have helped me to make my qualitative information more engaging and
visually appealing for the viewers.
The blog- publishing service (Blogger) has allowed me to visually present my A2 coursework journey within
research, planning, construction and evaluation process. The use of blogger was essential to keep my
journey updated demonstrating my continues progression within the construction of music video and
ancillary task. Besides, from that blogger has allowed me to incorporate all seen above website links which
made the visual presentation even more appealing, allowing my work to be easily accessed through the use
of links and embedded codes. The mix and variation between the use of these technologies allowed me to
complement my work in various frames including slides, presentations, animations, audios and videos.
Furthermore, I could confidently create my own design of the website. I have particularly chosen dark
background and white text to make the information more eye-catchy. I have kept consistency through the
choice of font and size which allowed me to demonstrate my own style and creativity.

Throughout the research, construction, planning and evaluation I have used presentation based work. I found the use of
Slideshare, Prezi and Emaze really useful within these stages as I could confidently analyse my work along side with
other mediums such as photographs and videos. Complementing this work within the presentations made my work more
engaging, allowing the readers to visualise the text. Besides, from that the animation-like effect of forwarding the slides
and back made it easier to link my work. Besides, from that I have used various templates which involved various
designs, making the final outcomes much more visually attractive. I could confidently manipulate the text. This includes
various fonts depending on the template, different size , building up and decreasing significance of text. Besides, from
that I effectively complemented my work which I have carried out on programs such as PowerPoint. I simply saved the
outcomes as photographs and then placed them in listed above websites. This allowed my work to be more engaging
through various transformations obtained simply through clicking. Another engaging approach of presenting my work was
developed through the use of SoundCloud. Within my ancillary questionnaire I have created first audio based recording.
This was something new for me as I never used audio as a method of presenting my work. I found it quite engaging as
the viewers could simply listen rather than read piles of text. As I found this method quite effective I have developed it
within my third evaluation question. I have used Texttospeech.com website where I pasted written beforehand script. The
website allowed me to obtain artificial recording, creating an audio file of my text. I then uploaded the
downloaded file into SoundCloud which I then presented in my blog. I supported the audio with visuals
Created in PowerPoint and saved as an image. I found this use of technology really create, allowing me
to engage my viewers with a different and more innovative way of presenting written based work.

Looking back at my use of technology particularly within my

research and planning I have used variety of Microsoft programs.
This included Excel, PowerPoint and Microsoft Word. Within the
planning stages of my main production as a group we have used
Microsoft Word for table based work which followed qualitative
information including: shooting schedules, rushes and scripts. It
was important to keep the order of the information and accuracy
to make it easier to read. As a development of these tasks we
have used Scribd website which allowed the viewers to easily
scroll down the pages, easily allowing them to move up and
down along the file. Furthermore, the use of Excel allowed us to
confidently create a budget total of our main production. This
made the calculations much faster to sum up, creating clear table
grid with all the information. Finally, I have used PowerPoint
throughout my entire journey. I have presented my work using
traditional presentations through slides, however Ive been also
experimental with the use of this method as I have saved the
slides as images, allowing me then to post my work in other
technological websites including Prezi, Slideshare or Emaze. I
have also uploaded my work particularly within research and
planning stages simply as images. This allowed me to
comfortably position my text and images which then would be
distilled in a picture frame.

Looking back at my methods of feedback I have continuously used SurveyMonkey

website which allowed me to create professional online questionnaire. The template and
option modes were easy to follow allowing me to adapt needed question structure
depending on expected responses. The layout of the survey was also easy to follow.
The option of keeping the survey open to public was also effective allowing me to widen
my range of audience gathering responses from random individuals. I have developed
this approach even further through school email. I simply included the link of the survey
within the email content. This was really helpful as it widen my range of audience even
further. Another useful element of this technology is the mechanical graph chart which
automatically creates summery every time your answers changes. This was really useful
as it allowed me to save a lot of time, making final conclusions through calculations and
notes on given answers. Finally, the opinion of automatic print allowed me to develop the
online source of responses through paper questionnaire. After constructing and gaining
feedback from both sources I have used online websites such as Slideshare, Prezi or
Emaze to compare gathered responses, analyse them and make final conclusions. I
found the use of SurveyMonkey essential within my feedback area as it significantly
increased my opportunities of gaining feedback from wide range of audience.

Another essential use of technology within my journey was the introduction of social media pages. I have
used YouTube throughout the course as a way of sharing existing music videos within my research . Then
within the process of construction and planning I have used YouTube as tool of sharing our own video shots
starting from practise shots, drafts and moving on to final outcomes where our video was viewed by public
over 140 times. The use of social website known for videos allowed us to gain feedback through likes and
comments. Besides, from that the use of YouTube allowed us to create a visualisation of our focus group,
which we have recorded using DSLR camera and then uploaded through YouTube to blogger. We have also
developed audience feedback by creating Facebook page for our artist. Besides, from that we have shared
our final production on our private accounts. By keeping the post open to public we have also gained useful
comments which were dominated by positive feedback. Reaching to our potential audience through social
media helped us to discover their ideas and opinions about our product. This was effective as the audience
could wilfully share their thoughts. Overall, I think the introduction to the use of social media was really
effective allowing me to gain additional feedback from public. The fact that anyone could access it increases
the potential distribution of a product. I am quite pleased that we could develop some of these approaches
within my own work.

CONCLUSION

InInconclusion,
conclusion, throughout my research, construction, planning and evaluation stages I have used various
methods of technological convergence. These variation between traditional Microsoft programs, digital
equipment, online animations and social media has helped me to develop my presentation skills, allowing
my blog journey to be more engaging and visually appealing. I found some of the technologies better than
other, however I feel that each approach of technological presentation met their role. I particularly liked
Scribd website which helped me to adapt long files full of tables, in order to make them more appealing
and easier to view by continues scrolling. This differed to websites such as Emaze or Prezi where I could
be more visually creative by applying images, screenshots and videos. Besides, from that I have explored
new technologies throughout this year. This included development around social websites which helped
me to gain essential and wilful feedback. I could use my existing skills of photography by working within
two editing software's such as Photoshop and Ipiccy. I have also developed already existing InDesign
skills obtained through last years production of music magazine. However, I have also learnt new skills
within programs such as Adobe Premier which I have never used before. This opportunity allowed me to
discover different sides of media, in this case under filming production. Overall, I have explored various
technologies throughout this journey developing my existing skills and gaining new ones. The diversity of
the technology allowed my work to be more engaging and visually appealing throughout large amounts of
tasks under research, planning, construction and evaluation stages.